The dire fox is one of the possible evolutions of the red fox in the next 10-20 thousand years. This fox however is not a variation of the red fox but a whole different species that has branched off from the Vulpes Family. This section will discuss the adaptations and habitat of the Dire Fox. The scientific name of the Dire Fox is Vulpes Dirus, similar to the Dire Wolf (Canis Dirus). Vulpes Dirus means abominable fox.
Scientific
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Subphylum
Vertebrata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Suborder
Carniformia
Family
Canidae
Subfamily
Caninae
Tribe
Vulpini
Genus
Vulpes
Species
V.Dirus
Habitat
The habitat of the dire fox is not much different from that of the red fox. The Dire Fox population is distributed around the areas that its ancestors have inhabited and have also spread into most of Africa due to North America colliding with Africa. The Dire Fox has also continued to exist in Australia. The dire fox prefers areas of high altitude and is native in most parts of North America, Africa and Eurasia.
As the Dire Fox is bigger, it also occupies a larger home range, ranging from 20 square kilometers to 70 square kilometers. The idea of multiple dens also exist within the Dire Fox population with as many as 15 different dens used for sleeping, raising young and food storage. The Dire Fox is found mostly on rolling hillsides with a river for easy water access. The area in which the Dire Fox may be found could also contain woodland and forests in which the fox may hide or hunt.
Adaptations
Physical 1
One noticeable adaptation that the Dire Fox has made that is not found in the Red Fox is its size. The Vulpes Dirus is a lot bigger than the average red fox. It now has an average size of 110 - 160 centimeters in length and 70-80 centimeters at shoulder height. Speed however was not compromised as the length and strength of the legs have also increased thus maintaining the speed and agility of the Red Fox.
The dramatic increase in size is needed to cope with the need to hunt bigger prey in order to survive. A bigger, stronger body is needed to compete with the other members of the canidae family. With its new size it can hunt things that were once too big for the red fox such as Bison and Moose .
Physical 2
As mentioned above, the legs and tail of the Dire Fox is longer than that of its ancestor. The longer legs would mean that the Dire Fox has kept its speed and agility even after its size increased. As seen in the drawing (Fig. 1), the dire fox's legs are not the length of a an average human calf ( 25 - 30 centimeters). The tail is now also nearly half of the Dire Fox's body length as opposed to the Red Fox's tail being one third of its body length.
The pressure the caused this adaptation could perhaps be the need to chase down its prey and, if needed, run away from predators. The greatest predator of the Dire Fox are still humans. Therefore the dire fox will have to be able to out run a fully grown human if it needs to in order to survive.
Behavioral 1
An adaptation that the Dire Fox has developed is that is it very aggressive when it comes to territory. This aggression is used to fend of any intruders that wonder into the Dire Fox's home range. This is useful because if fox is aggressive then predators will be cautious when preying on the Dire Fox thus increasing the fox's chances of survival.
The pressure that caused this adaptation could have been that its territory is always being invaded and its den's ransacked by other fox's or other animals. This aggressive behavior ensured that the fox will defend its home range.
Behavioral 2
Another behavior of the Dire Fox is that mates for a monogamous pair during each breeding season. This is carried on from the Red Fox. Being monogamous (only one mate) means that there will always be a pair a foxes to hunt for food, defend the den and raise the kits (young fox).
This adaptation was probably caused by vixens and kits being eaten by predators. If the vixen is killed then the kits will be defenseless and will make easy food for the predator. The monogamous pair means that there are 2 foxes that defend the family even if one adult fox dies, the kits are left with another line of defense.
Physiological 1
The five senses of the Fire Fox have also improved from tis ancestor. The Dire fox has better night vision, more sensitive hearing and an acute sense of smell. These senses are important when hunting or when being hunted. Night vision will help the fox detect prey in the evening or at night. Better hearing means that the fox will be able to hear prey or predators from further away. A better sense of smell will allow the fox to track down prey and sense predators when they are nearby.
This adaptation could have arisen due to the fact that foxes are preyed on by larger animals and that the fox only notices the predator when its is too late. The better senses of smell, hearing and sight will allow the fox to detect the predator before the it is in immediate danger.
<< Red Fox (Modern Animal)
Dire Fox
The dire fox is one of the possible evolutions of the red fox in the next 10-20 thousand years. This fox however is not a variation of the red fox but a whole different species that has branched off from the Vulpes Family. This section will discuss the adaptations and habitat of the Dire Fox. The scientific name of the Dire Fox is Vulpes Dirus, similar to the Dire Wolf (Canis Dirus). Vulpes Dirus means abominable fox.Habitat
The habitat of the dire fox is not much different from that of the red fox. The Dire Fox population is distributed around the areas that its ancestors have inhabited and have also spread into most of Africa due to North America colliding with Africa. The Dire Fox has also continued to exist in Australia. The dire fox prefers areas of high altitude and is native in most parts of North America, Africa and Eurasia.As the Dire Fox is bigger, it also occupies a larger home range, ranging from 20 square kilometers to 70 square kilometers. The idea of multiple dens also exist within the Dire Fox population with as many as 15 different dens used for sleeping, raising young and food storage. The Dire Fox is found mostly on rolling hillsides with a river for easy water access. The area in which the Dire Fox may be found could also contain woodland and forests in which the fox may hide or hunt.
Adaptations
Physical 1
One noticeable adaptation that the Dire Fox has made that is not found in the Red Fox is its size. The Vulpes Dirus is a lot bigger than the average red fox. It now has an average size of 110 - 160 centimeters in length and 70-80 centimeters at shoulder height. Speed however was not compromised as the length and strength of the legs have also increased thus maintaining the speed and agility of the Red Fox.The dramatic increase in size is needed to cope with the need to hunt bigger prey in order to survive. A bigger, stronger body is needed to compete with the other members of the canidae family. With its new size it can hunt things that were once too big for the red fox such as Bison and Moose .
Physical 2
As mentioned above, the legs and tail of the Dire Fox is longer than that of its ancestor. The longer legs would mean that the Dire Fox has kept its speed and agility even after its size increased. As seen in the drawing (Fig. 1), the dire fox's legs are not the length of a an average human calf ( 25 - 30 centimeters). The tail is now also nearly half of the Dire Fox's body length as opposed to the Red Fox's tail being one third of its body length.The pressure the caused this adaptation could perhaps be the need to chase down its prey and, if needed, run away from predators. The greatest predator of the Dire Fox are still humans. Therefore the dire fox will have to be able to out run a fully grown human if it needs to in order to survive.
Behavioral 1
An adaptation that the Dire Fox has developed is that is it very aggressive when it comes to territory. This aggression is used to fend of any intruders that wonder into the Dire Fox's home range. This is useful because if fox is aggressive then predators will be cautious when preying on the Dire Fox thus increasing the fox's chances of survival.The pressure that caused this adaptation could have been that its territory is always being invaded and its den's ransacked by other fox's or other animals. This aggressive behavior ensured that the fox will defend its home range.
Behavioral 2
Another behavior of the Dire Fox is that mates for a monogamous pair during each breeding season. This is carried on from the Red Fox. Being monogamous (only one mate) means that there will always be a pair a foxes to hunt for food, defend the den and raise the kits (young fox).This adaptation was probably caused by vixens and kits being eaten by predators. If the vixen is killed then the kits will be defenseless and will make easy food for the predator. The monogamous pair means that there are 2 foxes that defend the family even if one adult fox dies, the kits are left with another line of defense.
Physiological 1
The five senses of the Fire Fox have also improved from tis ancestor. The Dire fox has better night vision, more sensitive hearing and an acute sense of smell. These senses are important when hunting or when being hunted. Night vision will help the fox detect prey in the evening or at night. Better hearing means that the fox will be able to hear prey or predators from further away. A better sense of smell will allow the fox to track down prey and sense predators when they are nearby.This adaptation could have arisen due to the fact that foxes are preyed on by larger animals and that the fox only notices the predator when its is too late. The better senses of smell, hearing and sight will allow the fox to detect the predator before the it is in immediate danger.
Bibliography
Wikipedia (2010) Amasia (continent) Retrieved 23rd July 2010 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amasia_(continent)Sens Agent (2009) Amasia (continent) Retrieved 23rd July 2010 from: http://dictionary.sensagent.com/amasia+(continent)/en-en/
World Lingo (2010) Amasia Retrieved 23rd July 2010 from: http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/en/Amasia_(continent)/1